Folding wringer washing machine



May 25, 1954 Filed Dec. 13, 1951 G. l. cocKERlLl. Erm.

FOLDING WRINGER WASHING MACHINE IN VEN TORSv l(5f/mu) f. COCHE/PML BY Ww rf@ AZ z//vfs Hrm/sway May 25, 1954 e. cocKERlLL 5TM. 2,679,151

FOLDING WRINGER WASHING MACHINE Fi1ed .Dec. 13, .1951 l 4 Sheets$Sheet 2 INVENToRs GERHLD Z Cac/Emu By Wn f5@ A? 00A/5 fev- May 25, 1954 G. .-,o :i '|=zu Erm.

FOLDING WRINGER- WASHING MACHINE.

Filed Dec. 15, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 s m m N I 'May 25 1954 G. l. cod-Kramm. 5TM,

FOLDING WRINGER WASHING MACHINE 4` sheets-sheet 4 Filed Dec. 13, 1951 GER/9m (bc/(Emu BY mr ,Q f2 00A/Es /QroRA/EY Ei- Emi Patented May 25, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING WRINGER WASHING MACHINE Gerald I. Cockerill, Cleveland Heights, and Walvter A. Dunes, Parma, Ohio, assignors to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to wringer type clothes washing machines, and more particularly to a machine of this type having a wringer which can be folded within the machine tub when not in use.

Due to the limited space available in many present-day kitchens, utility `rooms and the like, there is an increasing demand for appliances, such as washing machines, clothes dryers, and dishwashing machines, having relatively flat and unobstructed top surfaces which can be used as a Work or storage counter when the appliances are not in use. 4Since most of the above type appliances, with the exception of wringer type washing machines, have a cabinet which is generally square or rectangular in cross section, it is desirable that a wringer type Washer have a similarly shaped cabinet for appearance and top surface matching, i

We have devised a Wringer type clothes washer having a cabinet generally rectangular in cross section and wherein the wringer can be folded into the tub when the washer is not in use. When the wringer is in folded position, a at cover is placed on the washer providing a work or storage surface.

t is a primary object of the invention to provide a wringer type clothes `washer having a wringer pivoted about a iixed axis within the tub and provided with a relatively short drive shaft adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from an upright drive shaft in a zone adjacent the pivotal axis whereby the wringer may be disposed in an upright operative position or in a folded inoperative position largely within the tub ,permitting a relatively shallow cover to be placed -on the tub to completely encase the wringer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wringer type clothes washer of the above type Ahaving relatively simple means for operatively Y.

engaging the wringer and upright shafts when the wringer is disposed in upright position.

Another object of the invention is to provide la wringer type clothes washer of the above type having means for automatically locking they wringer operative position when it is moved from folded to upright position.

Gther objects of the invention and the invention itself will become increasingly apparent 'from a consideration of the following description L,

and drawings, wherein:

igure lis a vertical, sectional view of a Washing .machineembodying 'the 'invention with parts on'iitted for clearance of illustration;

VFigure 2=is a plan view of the washing machine 2 illustrated in Fig. 1, showing the wringer in folded position and with the cover removed;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, sectional, elevational view showing the wringer in folded position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, elevational, sectional View showing the wringer drive means in operative position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, elevational, sectional view showing the wringer in upright or operaive position;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing a porti-on of the wringer drive means; and

Figure '7 is a side sectional View of the drive means illustrated in Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly Fig. l, we have indicated the washer cabinet generally at lil. The cabinet, preferably formed of sheet metal, is generally rectangular in cross section rand the corners are preferably IOunded- The cabinet has an inturned top iiange H forming a seat for a tub, indicated at l2, and an inturned bottom flange i3, both anges adding stifiness to the cabinet. The top portion of the cabinet is preferably provided with a series of peripheral grooves or corrugations lo which stiffen the cabinet and add to its appearance. A stiffening and mounting plate it, having a downturned peripheral flange, is welded or otherwise Ysecured to the cabinet substantially at the mid- 1zone thereof. -Beneath the plate It four legs l1 are disposed at the corners of the cabinet, the legs being L-shaped in cross section and extending from plate I6 to adjacent the cabinet bottom nange I3. The legs ll are preferably ribbed for additional stiffness, as indicated at i8 and welded to the cabinet walls. Casters i9 may have the socket portion welded to legs Il.

A motor 2| is bolted to a plate 22 which has one end supported from plate la by a U-shaped strap and its opposite end supported by a bracket (not shown) connected to plate lli. Aconventional gear case 23 is also supported from plate i6 by brackets (not shown). The motor pulley through a belt 2li is adapted to drive the mechanism within the gear casefor oscillating an agitator 2t and rotating a shaft 21 for driving a wringer, generally indicated at 28. The central bottom portion of the tub I3 is supported by and clamped to a seal housing 29 which encases a liquid seal for .the yagitator shaft.

The tub l2 is substantially square in cross .section inthe agitator zone andin the upper zone .has ,a shelf 'il along one side thereof formed Aby v.haring the tub side wall laterally outwardly and then upwardly. The shelf is preferably corrugated, as indicated at 32, to give a scrub-board area which can be used for rubbing cuffs and the like. .At one end the shelf has an elevated portion, as indicated at 33, to provide a support for the wringer 23 and the wringer drive means. As best illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, a casting, generally indicated at Sil, is formed with a depending tubular portion 38, the tube encircling and being interlocked with the upper end portion of the wringer column 31. Portion 36 has lateral lugs 3d adapted to have bolts projected therethrough and engage clamp means for connecting the upper end of the wringer column to the shelf portion 33 of the tub. The upper portion of casting 34 is generally U-shaped in cross section and has an inclined upper face 39. The casting 34 is also formed at one side with a central hinge knuckle 35 to receive a hinge pin 4t. A rubber ring il disposed between the upper portion of casting 34 and shelf portion 33 acts as a water shield.

The lower end of wringer column 32 telescopes over a boss 42 on the gear case and a suitable sealing means :i3 is disposed between boss 42 and shaft 2l to prevent any water which might seep into the wringer column from reaching the interior of the gear case. Shaft 2, which is circular in cross section, is formed with transverse slot, indicated at 44, to receive the lower end of a drive shaft (l which is rectangular in cross section. The lower end of shaft i5 is formed with a rectangular opening 46 and a cotter pin 4i' is projected through the upper end of shaft 21 and opening ll@ whereby limited axial movement of shaft 4L? relative to shaft 27 is permitted. Shaft 45 is formed with a pair of lateral ears 48 which abut a disc 4S of inverted cup form. A similar disc 5l seats on the upper end of shaft 21 and a compression spring 52 is mounted between the discs and tends to maintain shaft 45 in an elevated position.

The wringer 28 includes a casting 53 having knuckle portions E!! adapted to receive hinge pin 40 whereby the wringer is pivotally connected to casting 34 mounted on shelf portion 33. Casting 53 has an inclined face, generally semicircular in contour, adapted to seat on the inclined face 39 of casting 34 `when the wringer is in upright or operative position. The wringer has a drive shaft 56 slotted to engage the upper end of shaft 45 for rotating the wringer rolls 51 in a conventional manner. In the event shaft 45 is not in register with the slot of shaft 5d when the wringer is moved to upright position, it will be depressed until it is in register whereby spring 52 will elevate shaft 45 to make a drive connection between shafts 45 and 56. We preferably provide a seal for the upper portion of shaft 45 which may comprise a felt disc 58 telescoped 4over the shaft and engaging the inner wall of wringer column 3l, the disc seating upon a rigid inverted cup form disc 59 abutting lateral ears 6i formed on shaft 45.

To hold the `wrnger locked in operative position, a latch means is provided, comprising a lever 62 pivoted at 5S on casting 34 and slotted to receive a pin 64 mounted in casting '53, the lever being held in locked position by clip spring 66. The lever t2 has a curved portion 65 adapted to engage the pin 64 when the wringer is moved from folded to operative position so as to rock lever 62 in a counterclockwise direction (Figs. 3 and 4) and thus automatically lock the wringer in operative position. Lever 62 can be manually rocked out of engagement with pin 64 when it is desired to fold the wringer into tube I2. The wringer is provided with a relatively narrow fixed drain pan 67 at the inboard side of the tub (Fig. 5) and a wide drain pan 68 at the outboard side for directing water to a set tub or the like adjacent the washing machine. Drain pan S8 is pivoted at 69 so that it can be rocked to clear a cover, indicated at l i, when the wringer is folded. Any suitable means may be used for pivoting drain pan 58 to the wringer and this may be effected in a simple manner, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, by notching one side of each generally U-shaped end frame Bt of the wringer to provide a tab 'l0 with clearance at each side of said tab. The generally V-shaped end portions of the drain pan G8 are formed with holes adapted to receive tab it whereby it is merely necessary to spring the pan end portions slightly inwardly so that the tabs can project into the holes to form a pivotal connection, the notches at each side of the tab giving sufficient clearance for the end portion of the drain pan and the pivotal movement desired. The wringer is provided with a safety release lever i2 and a roll pressure control knob '53. When the wringer is folded it will be supported by the wringer head, generally indicated at lll, resting on tub shelf 3l As best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 1i, the casing ange i i is preferably doubled back on itself and is received in a peripheral rubber ring '16, U- shaped in cross section, which forms a cushion between nange ii and the tub l2. The cabinet lil of tub i2 is secured together' in a suitable manner, as by spacing bolts indicated at il. A preferably rubber trim band 'i8 encircles the top portion of the cabinet and tub at the upper joint therebetween. The cover 7i has a substantially flat work surface and a downturned peripheral flange which is preferably slightly inturned at the base.

It will now be understood that we have provided a wringer type washing machine having a cabinet adapted to match modern appliances, such as clothes dryers, dishwashers and the like, and having a wringer which can be easily moved to operative position or folded within the washer tub and enclosed by a cover providing a substantially fiat work or storage surface.

We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modiiications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

l. A wringer type washing machine having a tub, an upright drive shaft, a wringer pivotally mounted on the tub whereby it may be disposed in upright operative position or folded within the tub, a wringer drive shaft operatively connected to the upright shaft, when the wringer is in upright position, and disconnected therefrom, when the wringer is in folded position, the wringer drive shaft engaging the upright shaft by a tongue and groove type connection, the upright shaft being depressible in the event the tongue and ygroove are misaligned when the wringer is moved to upright position, and spring means urging the upright shaft upwar ly to form an operative connection between said shafts when the tongue and groove are aligned.

2. A wringer type washing machine having a tub and a removable cover, said cover having a relatively at top work surface and a peripheral depending flange of relatively small depth, a Wringer, means to pivotally mount the wringer on the tub whereby with the cover removed the wringer may be disposed in upright operative position or folded within the tub and completely enclosed with the cover in place, the wringer having a relatively short drive shaft extending therefrom, an upright drive shaft engaging the wringer shaft when the wringer is in upright position, and the wringer pivotal means having a fixed pivotal axis within the tub and adjacent the extended end of the wringer drive shaft whereby when the wringer is folded only a small portion of the wringer shaft extends above the tub and within the confines of the cover when in place.

3. A wringer type washing machine as defined in claim 2 and wherein the wringer drive shaft is relatively short, a tubular housing encircles the wringer drive shaft and terminates adjacent the extending end of said shaft, the upright shaft terminates adjacent the upper edge of the tub, a tubular housing eneircles the upright shaft and terminates adjacent the upper end of the tub, the pivotal means for the wringer comprises hinge means interconnecting said housings adjacent the top edge of the tub, and said housings having mating portions forming a seat when the wringer is in upright position.

4. A wringer type washing machine as defined in claim 2 and wherein a portion of the tub side wall projects radially inwardly to form a shelf adapted to form a support for the wringer when the wringer is in folded position.

5. A wringer type washing machine as defined in claim 2 and wherein a tubular housing encircles the wringer drive shaft and terminates adjacent the extended end of said shaft, a tubular housing encircles the upright shaft and terminates adjacent the upper end of said shaft, a pin projects from the housing for the wringer shaft, a notched latch lever is pivotally mounted on the tubular housing for the upright shaft, spring means tend to rock the latch lever in a given direction, and when the wringer is moved to upright position the pin rocks the latch lever in an opposite direction whereby the pin will be rereceived in the notch of the latch lever to lock the wringer in upright operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 16,776 Payne et al. OCt. 18, 1927 1,667,847 Garlits May 1, 1928 1,667,868 Peters May 1, 1928 1,728,651 Altorfer Sept. 17,1929 1,948,009 Saunders et a1 Feb. 20, 1934 2,112,584 Turner Mar. 29, 1938 2,334,780 Lundy Nov. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 190,702 Switzerland Aug. 2, 1937 648,930 Great Britain Jan. 17, 1951 

